The MRA4 Nimrod is just an Upgraded MR2. There are no differences to the air frame, which is over 40 years old. One of my friends is based on the RAF TriStar refuel tankers in Brize Norton and he told me that since that accident The RAF do not actually refuel the Nimrod's in-flight anymore. Still a cool aircraft to see. I'm not sure they should be chucking it around like that now though!
No it's not, it's 90% brand new. The only part of the MR2 airframe that is used in the MRA4 is the fuselage tube, which even today has only done 30% of it's expected fatigue lifespan. Everything else is brand new, from the larger wings, bigger tailfin, more powerful engines, glass cockpit, internal layout & mission systems...
that's the old nimrod, the new on is manytimes over better. eg the refeuling probe is better, as it hasn't jus been ripped off a vulcan and strapped on. thats the reason why one exploded. it did aar with an american air tanker which pumps in fuel at a higher preasure causing a leak and an inevitable explosion.
i think some are on tests. any way quite a few mr2s have been taken to kinloss, stripped, given back to bae at woodford, and they refurbish them, tunring them into mra4s. (i'm on work experience at bae woodford ATM, also my dad works there)
The MRA4 Nimrod is just an Upgraded MR2. There are no differences to the air frame, which is over 40 years old. One of my friends is based on the RAF TriStar refuel tankers in Brize Norton and he told me that since that accident The RAF do not actually refuel the Nimrod's in-flight anymore. Still a cool aircraft to see. I'm not sure they should be chucking it around like that now though!
discokidda 2 years ago
No it's not, it's 90% brand new. The only part of the MR2 airframe that is used in the MRA4 is the fuselage tube, which even today has only done 30% of it's expected fatigue lifespan. Everything else is brand new, from the larger wings, bigger tailfin, more powerful engines, glass cockpit, internal layout & mission systems...
redreligion 2 years ago
you can see the Comet lineage still.
juzzi07 3 years ago
dont understand why MOD allowed this aircraft, a vital aircraft, to get so old and unreliable.
geoffart 3 years ago
it isn't
slipersox 3 years ago
that's the old nimrod, the new on is manytimes over better. eg the refeuling probe is better, as it hasn't jus been ripped off a vulcan and strapped on. thats the reason why one exploded. it did aar with an american air tanker which pumps in fuel at a higher preasure causing a leak and an inevitable explosion.
slipersox 3 years ago
when you say the nim isnt old, are you talking about Nimrod MR.2? To my knowledge, thats just a refurbishment of the MR.1, not a new plane.
geoffart 3 years ago
i was talking about the mra4
slipersox 3 years ago
OK, but its not in service yet is it?
think I know where your coming from, as they are working on an upgrade, but as far as I know, mr.2 will be in service until 2010+.
Right now, the old aircraft is being used and thats what I meant. The upgrade is long in coming for a vital machine.
geoffart 3 years ago
i think some are on tests. any way quite a few mr2s have been taken to kinloss, stripped, given back to bae at woodford, and they refurbish them, tunring them into mra4s. (i'm on work experience at bae woodford ATM, also my dad works there)
slipersox 3 years ago
the aircraft usually seems to perform well, but they want to hurry up with projects like the 1996 nim 2000.
geoffart 3 years ago
The UGLIEST aircraft on the planet, along side the RAF's canberra (which is out of service now thank God).
MLeyden91 3 years ago
love the engines
bencaldwell08 3 years ago
WOW That is something for a big plane/
redbaroniii 3 years ago